Karla Thommen

Karla Thommen is a strategic People Operations leader dedicated to fostering a high-performance culture at The Partners Group. As Managing Director of People Operations, she oversees HR and Learning & Development, ensuring initiatives align with business goals and enhance employee experience. With extensive experience in talent management, leadership development, and organizational strategy, Karla has transformed HR into a proactive, strategic function. She has led major initiatives in performance management, compensation, onboarding automation, and leadership training, driving employee engagement and retention. Previously, she launched a Population Health Management consulting practice for healthcare organizations, improving workforce well-being and reducing costs. She also serves as an adjunct business instructor and is an active mentor and speaker. Karla holds a Master’s in Management and Organizational Leadership and is a SHRM-SCP-certified professional. She is also Prosci certified in change management and a certified Fierce Conversations training facilitator. Karla also sits on the advisory board of the OSU School of Business Management program and the Connect HR Leadership Summit. Karla is passionate about workforce management and organizational design, she is committed to developing people and driving business success.